Grandma Strecker's Old Fashioned Mince Meat.

This is the taste of my childhood.  Here is the recipe exactly as it was handed down to me by my mother.  'Nuff said.

Grandma Strecker's Old Fashioned Mince Meat Pie Filling.
1 1/4 lb hamburger, cooked
1 lb raisins
1 11 oz box currents
2 1/2 qts cooked tart apples, my mother prefer Gravensteins.
2 1/4 c. sugar
2 lemons, juiced
1/2 t. salt
1/2 c. molasses
1/4t + 1/8 t. each cloves, nutmeg and cinnamon
1/2 t. allspice

Combine cooked apples and cooked hamburger.  Add remaining ingredients in a large stew pot.  Boil a few minutes.  Pack in quart canning jars and  freeze.  Makes three or four quarts.

My mother froze it in canning jars as mentioned.  See the photo.  I've only opened the freezer 3 times to look at this since I put it in there.  I love freezers.  My grandmother canned this, but you must not.  It could probably be done safely with a pressure cooker, but I do not have the expertise to tell you how.  The way my grandmother canned this is not currently considered safe, although they all lived long and vibrant lives with constitutions of a quarter horse.  Really.  Freeze it. 

And now the family pie crust just the way I was taught. 

http://dinnerattheosbornes.blogspot.com/2009/11/all-for-love-of-pie-crust-installment-i.html

http://dinnerattheosbornes.blogspot.com/2009/11/all-for-love-of-pie-crust-installment-2.html

Just one thing more things.  Here is how my new local hamburger meat from the butcher comes wrapped. 

Cute huh?

Remember to make something special for those you love.